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Following last week's underwhelming showing against the Japanese team, the head coach challenged his Irish team to step up their performance.

Ireland listened right away.

Ireland had struggled in the final stages against New Zealand and taken considerable time to get going versus Japan.

However, against the Wallabies, they began powerfully, with Mack Hansen shining brightest during a comprehensive triumph that marked the team's best display this year.

Making his debut test match appearance at full-back, Hansen registered a three tries, contested brilliantly for aerial challenges and performed exceptionally against the country of his origin.

"You know, I've had a fairly challenging period with injuries really," the athlete stated.

"I missed being in this team, I know there's much talk about me not exactly being born here and I didn't grow up here, but I adore this team and this feels like family.

"Whenever I have to represent for Ireland it's a privilege, if you fail to deliver a good showing you may not get that privilege again.

"My entire focus this week was to take the field and perform what I can do."

Coach stated: 'Good players require no justifications'

After twenty-eight appearances on the flank, Hansen was given the full-back position for the initial time with multiple teammates unavailable.

For him, it was simply a case of picking up where he finished during the warmer months.

The 28-year-old had been in excellent form before injury ended his aspiration of making the international squad.

Having come back recently, he developed a lower body injury that made him unavailable for previous fixtures.

The coach had suggested that the player was particularly motivated and these proved not hollow words as the ex- club player gave his coach a positive selection headache for future games.

"So my first reaction were, 'You need to perform well in those two colored shoes!'," commented Farrell, alluding to Hansen's choice to wear different boots.

"Actually I believed that was fitting but it seems Mack just did that himself regardless. So he's drawn notice to himself before he's even started.

"I said to him before the match, 'Excellent players require no justifications, they can perform and just be themselves, you can win the man of the match if you want,' and he went, 'Yes, I concur.'

"So he's that type of performer, he prepares well, he's has a excellent attitude to get across his preparation and so that's why he slotted straight into the team and he was capable to be himself because of that."

Hansen's efforts also received praise from the opposing manager, who stated he was the "standout Australian player" on the night.

"I thought he was outstanding, his experience showed to the fore," commented the ex- national coach.

"Unfortunately, Mack was likely the best Australian player on the pitch. He's has a great skillset and he's such a good contender."

Pressed about what makes the player a strong fit at the number 15 position, Farrell continued: "Appearing in the middle of the field is a trait that he demonstrates from the wing anyway, but I imagine he's better in position for that more often.

"His aerial work was excellent, wasn't it? I believed we didn't get bored of executing the right approach and that was putting the ball back on them to secure territory.

"Why that was the correct thing to do is since it's the players of Mackie who was getting the possessions back, and additional players, so [it's] quite pleasing."

Outside Hansen, there were multiple encouraging aspects for Farrell.

Sam Prendergast was excellent on his return to the number 10 jersey, the scrum and throw-in functioned smoothly and another player did not look out of place in his debut start in the forwards.

But perhaps most satisfying for Farrell was Ireland framing the game with two impressive periods.

The player's initial couple of tries occurred in the first eleven moments while other players registered in the final stages after the opposition had scored, guaranteeing the home team finished on a positive note.

"I thought we truly let ourselves go and approached the match right from the beginning," said the coach.

"The way we handled numerous elements throughout the game, particularly them responding just before half-time and regathering ourselves and giving a display like we did in the second half, I thought as far as territory and being across most of our strategy in that later period was truly pleasing."

The might of South Africa are awaiting for Ireland, in what might be considered as an informal decider to the previous season's drawn multiple match series on opposition territory.

The coach's team will need to reach another standard to defeat the back-to-back world champions, but the recent victory of the Australian team was a significant step in the right path after an disappointing beginning to their fall campaign.